People can twist Scripture and cause their own destruction (see 2 Peter 3:16). We see multiple modern examples of this.

The Watchtower Society has long prohibited blood transfusions—even when doctors say death is inevitable without one. Jehovah’s Witnesses fallaciously believe that the scriptural prohibition against the pagan practice of eating blood applies to transfusions (Leviticus 7:26-27; 17:11-12). For this reason, many Jehovah’s Witnesses carry a signed card stating that they are not to receive blood transfusions if they are found unconscious. Many—including children and even babies—have died in this cult as a result.

Here’s another example. Larry Parker—under the influence of a teacher who took Scripture verses on faith out of context—stopped giving his diabetic son insulin, and the boy died. In remorse, Parker later wrote the heartbreaking book We Let Our Son Die.

The Jong Mal Ron (“end-time theory”) movement flourished in Korea in the 1990s. Based on misinterpretations of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 and other verses, followers set a specific date for the rapture. They also believed that if a person was too heavy, he or she would not be caught up in the rapture. A number of pregnant women in the group got abortions.

Pearl of Wisdom: Bad hermeneutics can lead to human suffering. We need to imitate the Bereans by carefully and thoroughly testing all truth claims against the Scriptures (Acts 17:11).

[5·Minute APOLOGETICS for TODAY Ron Rhodes]